Chapter 131 The One who Built Ties between Nations ⁕
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Undead King spread both arms wide, as if asking for a hug, while he spoke. Tatara Julon turned his thoughts quickly. Would this guy really give him time to pull Equipment from his Inventory? Here was a being who wished to be killed by humans, yet fought with all his strength to make it happen—a walking contradiction, and a real pain to deal with.
”A king sneaking into another country just to obsess over one human? That doesn’t seem right,” Tatara said.
”What? I visited the Imperial Capital this morning and finished a meeting. The key figure in establishing diplomatic relations… is you, Tatara Julon.”
”Not happy about that at all…”
The emperor and his ministers must have felt all kinds of ways when told the king wanted ties just to be killed by his favorite human.
But if relations were now official, things got tricky. Even in self-defense, killing another country’s king could start a war—no matter how carefully he played it. Well, the guy would just come back to life, which made it even more annoying.
”I have no plans to start trouble here,” the Undead King said.
”…You sure about that?”
”Kukuku, fair to doubt me after I ambushed you before. But this time, please trust me.”
”…Fine. I’ll trust you.”
Tatara eased his guard, though not completely. The Undead King looked a bit surprised, then smiled wide.
”You trust me? I’m glad, Tatara Julon.”
”Nothing special. I just gave up because fighting would bother the neighbors.”
The Undead King burst out laughing at Tatara’s answer. This king always seemed to be laughing.
”But what kept you out so late?” the king asked.
”Got a direct job from the merchant guild leader. Ended with something a bit shameful for the city.”
”Hm, merchant guild… embezzlement?”
Before he knew it, Tatara walked side by side with the Undead King, chatting. He talked about today’s work and the city festival, and the king showed real interest.
”I thought you were making weapons to kill me, but you’re busy helping the city instead.”
”You’re hunting ways to kill vampires, so I can’t find good leads. The magus spear Wallachia (vampire-killing spear) already pushed things too far.”
He had forced a weapon from monster parts that should not exist. Figuring out how to improve it further was the current puzzle.
”Plus, I need to hurry and dive deeper soon.”
”Hm, reports say you reach deep layers for your age?”
”For now, I have to beat the dive boss on floor 60 or I’ll die in a few months.”
The Undead King froze solid at those words. Tatara walked several steps ahead, then stopped and looked back. The king’s face looked like a lost child.
”You will die, Tatara Julon?”
”I almost died fighting you, remember?”
Tatara narrowed his eyes, wondering what the guy meant. That fight had been the closest he ever came to death.
No, sorry, that was a lie. The first time Ethelena lost control had felt even worse.
”…Is there a reason?” the king asked.
”Seems I craft things that don’t belong in this world too easily. My soul grows bigger than my body can hold, so it breaks.”
The Undead King blinked at the explanation, his mind slow to process the shock. Well, no one expected something like that to happen. After a moment, he understood and clutched his stomach, laughing hard. Tatara whacked the king’s head with a slipper without thinking.
”Think of the neighbors! Keep it down!”
”Kukuku, sorry, sorry… too unexpected, it’s pure comedy!”
”Don’t say it so loud… I get how you feel, though.”
”You get it, even as the one it’s happening to!”
Tatara felt stunned as the king’s laughter grew. Their bond started with trying to kill each other, yet here they were, chatting like friends.
”Kukuku… yes, right. One question—do you still carry my sword?”
Tatara answered by pulling the name sword Alcard (famous sword) from his Inventory.
”I see. Good that you keep it close.”
”…Didn’t you track the mana in it to find me?”
”…Hm, that works too. I’ll remember for next time.”
”Damn, shouldn’t have said that.”
The Undead King smiled, pleased with the reaction, while Tatara showed only weary amusement.
Well, if he asked about the sword, he probably wanted it back. Tatara held it out.
”What are you doing?” the king asked.
”Huh? Don’t you want it returned?”
The Undead King looked back and forth between Tatara and the sword, confused.
”…You don’t need it?”
”No, I’d like to keep it… but I thought it was important to you.”
”I took your spear home. You keep my sword.”
”…Doesn’t make much sense, but fine. I’ll hold onto it.”
Tatara stored the name sword Alcard in his Inventory. The Undead King nodded, satisfied, then tossed a sheath from his own Inventory. This felt like getting handed a tracking device.
”Now, we talked enough. Time for me to go.”
”You show up out of nowhere and leave the same way.”
”I rarely get true freedom. This is the perfect chance to enjoy it. Let me be selfish for once.”
”…Being king sounds tough.”
”Yes, very tough. Tatara Julon, you’ll know it someday. See you when fate crosses again. Farewell.”
The Undead King laughed happily at Tatara’s words, then turned his body into countless bats and flew off. No special ability to appear anywhere like Schrödinger’s theory, it seemed. If he had that, Tatara would have no chance at all. A small relief.
”I’m home.”
He walked straight inside and called out. A small shadow scampered from the back with quick steps.
”Ta—!”
”I’m home, Cornremu.”
Tatara bent down and stroked the head of Cornremu, the golem (robot servant) made for Ichika. The little one rubbed its head happily. Tatara took off his shoes, stepped up into the house, and felt calmer.
In the living room, Ichika dozed on the sofa. A towelket (thin blanket) covered her—probably Cornremu’s doing. When Tatara looked over, the golem’s eyes sparkled, begging for praise. He gave it extra pets.
He walked to Ichika and whispered softly in her ear.
”I’m home, Ichika.”
”…Welcome home, Tatara-sama.”
Ichika opened her eyes after a beat. Oops—he hadn’t meant to wake her.
”I’ll warm dinner right away…”
”No, rest. If you push yourself, I’ll pin you down and kiss you.”
”…I’ll work-degozaru.”
”Hey.”
The threat only fired her up. No choice—he hugged her tight and kissed her. Her ears and tail shot straight up, then relaxed as she hugged back.
”Rest, okay?”
”Hehe, as you wish-degozaru.”
Ichika switched from her real voice to her usual gozaru style. Tatara fixed the towelket on her lap, then went to the kitchen. Dinner waited just for him; everyone else had come home already.
Tonight: two big onigiri (rice ball), a small bowl of meat and potatoes, and miso (bean soup). They knew his stomach well—simple meals like this satisfied him when he wasn’t exploring.
He bit into an onigiri. Careless—he thought it was plain salt rice, but vinegar and kelp stock flavored the grains. Kinpira vegetables wrapped inside added sweet-spicy taste that matched the seasoned rice perfectly.
He picked a potato from the meat dish and popped it in his mouth. Broth-soaked, it burst with flavor when pressed against his tongue. The sweet broth paired well with the sour rice.
His throat grew dry from eating fast, so he sipped the miso soup. Onion and turnip in white miso gave a gentle, sweet taste he loved.
He kept eating until the meal ended without trouble.
”Master, not too heavy-degozaru?”
”No, feels too light, actually…”
After dinner, Tatara pulled Ichika close and lay down on the sofa. She asked with worry in her voice, but the meal still felt too light. Her chest had plenty of weight, though.
She lay face down on top of him, her full breasts pressed flat against his chest. It was a miracle his manhood stayed calm.
”Hehe… I get master all to myself-degozaru.”
”Think of it as fair pay for doing the housework.”
”Kyuu, you ate my food and even petted me-degozaru… In my line of work, that’s a big reward-degozaru.”
”Perfect, then.”
Tatara stroked Ichika’s hair as she snuggled closer. It felt as smooth and well-cared for as always. Somehow, flowers seemed to dance around her.
Soon, soft sleeping breaths came from Ichika. She must still be tired from going all morning. Maybe he had pushed her too hard.
”Hmm, leaving your wife alone to cheat?” Ethelena said.
She had just come from the bath and shot a jealous line at Tatara and Ichika.
”That wife approves of our relationship, you know,” Tatara replied.
He wanted to let Ichika sleep like this, but he had things to do. What now?
”…Who would have thought the foolish fox would let her guard down this much,” Hinagiku-san muttered.
She sounded surprised, as if seeing something unexpected. She and Ichika had lived through times when Ichika stayed very wary, so it made sense.
”Right, Hinagiku-san.”
”Yes, what is it?”
”Could you carry Ichika to her room?”
Hinagiku-san showed a mixed look at the request, thought for a bit, then nodded.
”Fine. If I stay with Tatara-dono, I might snap from holding back too long, so I’ll do it.”
”That’s a harsh reason.”
In that case, he would probably take her to his room and let her ride him with those breasts. Tatara pushed the thought aside and handed Ichika over. Now free, he stretched lightly and headed to the forge.
”Muu, Tatara ignores his bride too much!”
”Hey, we made love until morning—and even in the morning—so give me some space?”
His lower half had recovered enough for normal fun, but he had work he wanted to do. Cipher hadn’t brought letters from the City Mayor or merchant guild leader, so tomorrow was free. The day after, a job from the guild leader waited, so time was actually tight.
”Come to my room later.”
”Muu… What will you do now?”
”Expand the forge. Got king orbs (elemental cores), so ideas piled up.”
He couldn’t borrow mana from stars like Master did, but using the power of a spirit king—who was the phenomenon itself—should let him do something close. That meant changing the magic Spell Formula (magic pattern) in the forge, and he would need more than one or two king orbs.
He had planned to do it yesterday, but endless pleasure in the bath stopped him. Youth made it hard to control impulses.
In the forge, he started by remodeling the furnace. He took out king orbs and used Crafting (making items) and Alchemy (refining) to process them. He refined eight fire king orbs in total and set them inside. Refining made their output even, keeping the inner flame steady. He tweaked the Spell Formula so heat stayed constant.
Next, he placed wind king orbs to act like bellows. He calculated positions to avoid interference and raise heat evenly.
He optimized the Spell Formula so both types of king orbs drew mana equally. When he started the furnace, the orbs worked together, and the flame turned blue.
The effect beat his hopes. He almost pumped his fist but stopped fast—the furnace began to melt from its own heat. He had forgotten durability calculations.
He forged most of his Adamantite (strong metal) and lined the inside. He added water king orbs for cooling, then backed it with Mithril (light metal) to absorb fire attributes from the fire orbs. This pulled heat from the Adamantite to the limit. The furnace’s strength shot up like an explosion, and melting stopped.
For the quenching tank, he set water king orbs inside and built a Spell Formula to make water from dragon vein (mana source) mana. He carved marks to stop overflow and added limits. He used the same structure as the furnace to handle sudden heat rises. He tested with heated Mithril—it held without issue.
Finally, the anvil. He used Orichalcum (rare metal) as the base, mixed in the amounts of Adamantite and Mithril that Master had taught. He linked bed and anvil with earth king orbs to better blend dragon vein mana.
The forge upgrade, filled with four great attributes, was done. A test katana showed far better mana harmony than before.
But he had used almost all his Adamantite. Ethelena and Yohira would surely scold him.
Work finished, he went to the bath. He wanted to wash off sweat and feel fresh, so he entered the couple’s bath.
”And this is how it ends up.”
”You made me lonely, Tatara, so you owe me extra skinship, okay?”
”As you wish.”
They faced each other in a sitting position, locked in a tight hug hold, bodies pressed fully together. Ethelena pouted and twisted her hips. Her wings wrapped around them too. Sex Sorcery (lust magic) from her whole body stirred desire, and his manhood inside her vaginal canal stood painfully hard.
”Tatara and Ichika get along great, but sometimes you seem better suited…”
”No, tell me straight when you feel that way. Don’t bottle up complaints.”
”…Tatara’s thing fills up fast?”
”I can hold back fine.”
Worst case, he could handle it alone. Ethelena tried to bite his neck for marking, but his physical defense was too high now—no trace left.
She pursed her lips in displeasure, then kissed his lips and sucked hard. A bruise formed, and she looked satisfied.
Tatara returned the favor, sucking near her collarbone. A matching bruise appeared, and he grinned at her.
”Marking for Ethelena too.”
”Muu!”
Ethelena grumbled, then lifted her breasts from below and pushed them toward him. She clearly wanted him to suck there instead. As requested, he took both hard tips together and sucked. He made loud sounds on purpose to tease her shame. She let out sweet moans.
Pleased with her reaction, he thrust up from below. Her sounds grew louder, and her vaginal canal moved more. The stronger feel pushed him to the edge. He held her hips down and eja***ated.
They trembled together, then shared a deep kiss.
”Sometimes I wonder if I’m a sex addict.”
The words slipped out while they soaked in the bathtub. He had heard that people who slept with succubi often became dependent from the otherworldly pleasure.
This world had Sex Sorcery, so brain chemicals from sex likely flowed many times stronger. Plenty of people would end up hooked.
His first time was with Ethelena, and for a while she fed on him often. Now her succubus impulses were under control, but they still craved each other as lovers.
He even had Ichika and Tatia besides her. Tatara suspected he had one foot in addiction, if not both.
”I think I’m the Tatara addict. I get uneasy sometimes without touch.”
”…Sometimes?”
Ethelena’s answer stuck with Tatara. “Sometimes”? She had seemed uneasy pretty often, hadn’t she?
Well, the fault was his for making her worry. Yohira, Ichika, Tatia—he had given her reasons.
”It’s sometimes. If it was constant, I’d lock you up,” Ethelena said.
”Don’t say scary things so casually.”
If locked up, he couldn’t earn money… Wait, he could live off Torimochi patent fees without waste. A home Mana Reactor (home power) handled energy. Food came on regular order, about 100,000 a month. It was 50,000 for two, but more people meant more use. What if locked up?
”But if I did that now, you’d die,” she added.
”They said I’d waste away in months. Not sure how, but I’d get weaker…”
”Stop it!”
Ethelena screamed and clung to him. He messed up.
”Why say scary things!?”
”Sorry.”
”If you died, I…”
”We’d go together through the Engage Link (soul bond).”
”Even without it, I’d follow from loneliness!”
”…That still works?”
Tatara stroked her shaking head to calm her. Her soft body made his manhood react. Bad timing.
Ethelena took the hard manhood inside and started moving her hips. They kissed to push away fear. Tears mixed on their tongues, a bit salty. It almost ruined the mood, but succubus fluids kept him rock hard. From the outside, he looked like a pervert.
He eja***ated inside her vaginal canal to avoid dirtying the water. They kept going until her heart settled. He lasted until her HP ran out and she fell asleep. He deserved praise for holding on—he could have died.
He wiped Ethelena dry, tucked her in her room, then went to his own. Cipher never brought letters from the City Mayor or merchant guild leader. With ties to the Undead King’s country starting, he expected a word.
He decided to explore tomorrow and went to bed. He dreamed—a strange one.
Two men he somehow knew drank together. One had a round, happy face; the other was bearded and muscled. The happy one bragged, showing something. The bearded one looked jealous but congratulated him.
Tatara watched from afar. They noticed, raised their cups in greeting. He felt happy and waved back. Then he woke.
He sat up. Good sleep left his body in top shape. He nodded once and went to the kitchen. He relied on Ichika too much lately. He liked cooking—he had drifted too far from it.
”Good morning-degozaru, master.”
”Morning, Ichika.”
She spoke from behind while he cooked. He answered. Ichika gave a wry smile and joined him.
”Grilled fish today-degozaru?”
”Yeah, craved salt-grilled white fish.”
”But you added plenty of seasoning-degozaru?”
She caught the spices mixed with the salt. As a fox spirit, her nose was sharp.
”Yang has lots of water sources, so fresh fish. Here inland, it’s river fish. Mostly preserved for shelf life, too salty. I wash with sake first, then ease salt with spices.”
”Mumu, that explains why grilled fish sometimes tasted extra salty-degozaru.”
”You made it easy to eat without knowing… Pure skill.”
Ichika’s cooking was truly high level. She learned his ways and grew her skills. Respect.
”Oh, good morning. Fish this morning?”
”Ah, morning, Mother-in-law. Yes, grilled fish.”
”Good morning-degozaru, madam.”
He greeted the Mother-in-law who came to say hello, then turned back to cooking. He forgot how many people.
”…Hm?”
”What’s wrong-degozaru, master?”
”No, something feels off…”
Wait, who did he just greet?
Ichika noticed too. They turned at the same time. Mother-in-law sat at the table, calmly sipping self-made tea. Wait, why?
”H-How is Mother-in-law here!?”
”Madam!?”
”Oh, you noticed a bit late?”
”She blends in too naturally-degozaru!?”
Tatara and Ichika stared in shock. Mother-in-law smiled softly. Last night the Undead King, now her—what encounters?
Focus on cooking or breakfast would ruin.
”Ah, that person is here too, so add two more portions?”
”Why is the Acting Head of Family here with no notice!?”
The bombshell made him yell. He and Ichika kept cooking. Hands steady despite chaos—almost a miracle.
”…Father, Mother, why are you here-noja?”
Yohira came down for training, pressed her forehead like a headache, and asked her parents at the table. Yeah, headache material.
Mother-in-law hid a laugh behind her kimono sleeve. The Acting Head of Family looked awkward.
”Actually, yesterday Hizuru and our country formally tied relations.”
”Ours started this morning. A few issues, but talks began fine.”
So his side too. The emperor wouldn’t travel, so the Acting Head likely met the other side.
”What issues-degozaru…”
”Yes, a rude man tried to cause trouble… Tatara-dono’s blade cut him, but didn’t kill.”
”Why draw a sword at a diplomatic meeting?”
That could start a war on the spot.
”No, the king who met first went wild. Said if no ties, he’d harm ministers and Majesty here. I stepped in.”
”One wrong move, international mess—no joke.”
”…Tatara, our emperor’s kin are quick to fight-noja?”
”That’s why one wrong move is a mess…”
If so, homeland might have come to secure Yohira as leverage. Then he would have sent Ethelena and Yohira to Hizuru.
”What did the previous country complain about?”
”Yes. Seems a local city Crafter was to kill their king.”
”Pfft!?”
Too much heart hit. That had to be the Undead King… Why demand ties to be killed by him? Made no sense.
”Strange demand.”
”By the way, Tatara, that reaction—know something?”
Yohira looked suspicious. Ethelena too.
”For the record, you both met him. I ran into him yesterday leaving the merchant guild.”
Ethelena and Yohira showed no memory. The Acting Head stared sharp.
”…Huh, no idea.”
”Remember, the king we fought on floor 39.”
”Oh, right, the ‘Undead King’ ruled a country too… Seriously?”
”That one aimed for Tatara’s butt!?”
”Master’s rear-degozaru!?”
”Calm down, you two.”
Trying to jog memory sparked awful misunderstandings. Gay rumors were too harsh.
”Tatara-dono, did that king give you anything?” the Acting Head of Family asked in a heavy voice.
Give? More like forced on him. One thing came to mind.
”Uh, a sword… more like he left it with me.”
”Yeah, he vanished right after shielding Tatara and taking the hit. Looked like he forgot it,” Ethelena added.
The Acting Head rubbed his brow. Mother-in-law spoke instead.
”Not the king himself, but his retainer said the sword has deep history in their land. The king insists he gave it away, but his true intent is unclear.”
Gave it? It felt more like boss loot. Well, they never fully killed the Undead King, so maybe event reward.
”For the record, last night I tried to return it. He said keep it.”
The Acting Head’s frown deepened. Mother-in-law looked troubled. Strange air.
”Tatara-san, brace yourself,” Mother-in-law said.
”Huh? That sounds scary.”
She continued gently.
”The sword is called the name sword Alcard. It is a royal symbol the king wielded until founding his nation. It appears in their tales, often given as a child’s name. It also serves as proof of kingship.”
”…Huh?”
So, an inheritance sword for the throne. Noisy thing.
”Their king claims he gave it to this country’s Crafter—likely Tatara-dono—and personally rejected his retainer’s return request. He even demands a place to fight and be killed by Tatara-dono,” the Acting Head said.
”Why do troubles keep finding me!?”
”You were born under that star,” the Acting Head replied.
Tatara clutched his head and yelled. A voice came from another direction. He turned.
The Undead King sat on the living room sofa in his red cloak, black pajamas, and red nightcap. He sipped tea gracefully. Tatara boiled over.
”You pushed a sword with insane history on me!?”
”Kukuku, hold it and kill me—you’ll be king of a nation.”
”Don’t want the job. Don’t mock a born commoner!”
Management? No way. He lacked the talent.
”You called me the key to ties, but you threatened them, right!?”
”Rude. I’m serious—if not for you, I’d have no interest in this land. Your existence sparked our nations’ bond. Not an exaggeration.”
”It is!”
Who starts diplomacy over one Crafter? And the “enemy” was just a half-rank kid who could craft a bit.
The Acting Head watched their exchange with a subtle look.
”…A king, yet so fixed on a mere youth?”
He sounded like he saw the impossible. The Undead King laughed, pleased.
”What? He killed me countless times when we met by chance. His spirit, his thoughts suit my taste—that’s why I want him to end me.”
”Yesterday, I cut you. Thought I killed you for sure, but you live… What trick?” the Acting Head asked.
”Simple. I store lives I’ve taken. Around a million when we fought. Kill that many, I die,” Tatara answered.
The Acting Head stared at the king in disbelief. Yeah, annoying.
”Kukuku, harsh spoiler, Tatara Julon?”
”Knowing doesn’t make it easy to pull off.”
The Undead King glanced at the Acting Head, then back at Tatara. His obsession seemed to grow.
”No, no. I seek someone who won’t break even knowing this. A touchstone.”
”Most would lose hope. I’m in despair too.”
”You, who never gave up on living, say that?”
Nonsense.
”Who quits with loved ones waiting?”
”Then what are the odds?”
”One in ten thousand, billion, trillion… No. Even one in nayuta, if it exists, it’s enough.”
The Undead King’s smile widened. Why so happy?
”Humans reach for the impossible and make it real. I’ll grasp one in nayuta.”
Tatara stared straight and declared it. The Undead King burst into laughter he couldn’t hold.
After laughing, he looked at Tatara with a soft face.
”Wonderful. Humans are beautiful.”
”No. Not humans—lives that burn now are beautiful.”
The Undead King nodded, satisfied. He finished his tea and stood.
”Sorry for the early intrusion.”
”Really. Contact first next time.”
”Kukuku… Invite a ‘vampire’ as guest?”
”If words work.”
”I see… Then until fate crosses again. Farewell.”
He smiled happily, turned to bats, and flew out the open window for air. Tatara had no energy left to complain about trespassing.
”…Tatara-dono.”
”Yeah, sorry, Acting Head of Family.”
”No, one thing, if I may?”
Tatara braced at the serious face.
”Choose who you charm better.”
”I’m not charming anyone!?”
Not just women—men too? Too unfair.
Notes:
• Cornremu – TataraGolem; wears red scarf (*”Ta-!” greetings*).
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
• Cipher – Tatara’s familiar, sent to guard Tatia.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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